EUVC

In today’s episode of The European VC, Andreas talks with Shmuel Chafets, co-founder and Partner at Target Global, one of Europe’s leading venture firms with investments spanning software, fintech, mobility, logistics, healthcare, and consumer internet. With over 140 portfolio companies, including Revolut, Delivery Hero, and TravelPerk, Target Global operates across Europe, Israel, the Middle East, and Africa, backing founders from early-stage to growth. Known for its pragmatic approach to investing, the firm is increasingly focused on AI-native startups and frontier technologies shaping the next decade.

Since launching Target Global a decade ago, Shmuel has been at the forefront of European venture investing, navigating market cycles and shifting investment strategies in response to macro and technological trends. In this conversation, he shares his candid views on Europe's lagging position in AI, why Europe must shift from a risk-averse mindset to a creator-driven economy, and how AI is set to disrupt everything from public services to vertical SaaS. We also dive into why Target Global is moving earlier in its investment strategy, the growing relevance of Israel and the UAE in global tech, and why European bureaucracy remains one of the biggest obstacles to innovation.

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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed have a discussion with Ben Prade, Partner at GP Bullhound, to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape. 💬

In today’s episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas is joined by Bogdan Iordache, General Partner at Underline Ventures, and Jakob Stein, Vice President at Creandum, for a roundtable discussion on the latest insights from the Venture in Eastern Europe report launched yesterday by How to Web.

Eastern Europe’s venture scene has seen remarkable growth, with an increase in international funding and a maturing ecosystem that’s producing more globally competitive startups than ever before. With capital flowing into follow-on rounds at an unprecedented rate and local funds growing their influence, the region is no longer an "exotic" investment destination—it’s a strategic one.

In this conversation, we explore why Eastern European founders have to work harder to prove themselves, how global investors are adapting their strategies for the region, and which startup hubs are leading the charge in gaming, SaaS, and AI. We’ll also unpack the findings from the latest How to Web report, which highlights key investment trends, the role of local and international capital, and the biggest challenges still facing founders in the region.

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In today’s episode of our CVC series, Andreas and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, sit down with Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of TDK Corporation, a global leader in electronics and materials technology. With $350 million in AUM across three funds, TDK Ventures focuses on hard tech, deep tech, and energy transformation. It invests between $250K and $10 million per deal while balancing strategic alignment with venture-scale returns.

Since founding TDK Ventures in 2019, Nicolas has built one of the market's most disciplined and entrepreneur-friendly CVCs, backing startups in sustainability, mobility, and advanced materials. Under his leadership, the firm has pioneered a unique "Diverse Advocate" investment process, ensuring rigorous due diligence and a first-principles approach to deep tech investing. In this conversation, Nicolas shares how TDK Ventures bridges the gap between startups and a global corporate parent, the power of patience in CVC, and why he believes nuclear fusion will be the defining energy source of the future.

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In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Tom Wehmeier, Head of Intelligence at Atomico, to discuss the State of European Tech and what’s shaping the ecosystem's future. For over a decade, Tom has been at the forefront of data-driven investment strategies, market education, and ecosystem analysis at Atomico. He leads the firm's intelligence efforts, sits on the investment committee, and shapes European venture capital policy discussions.

Operating across Europe, Atomico is a multi-stage venture capital firm with over 155 portfolio companies, 1 in 6 valued in excess of $1 billion. They’ve partnered with some of the continent’s biggest tech success stories, including Klarna, Stripe, and DeepL. Tom has been driving Atomico’s research efforts, particularly the annual State of European Tech report, which has become the most awaited yearly report in venture that helps us understand Europe’s investment landscape and future potential.

In this conversation, Tom shares insights into Europe’s confidence crisis, the impact of regulation, and the future of AI and deep tech. He unpacks key findings from the latest State of European Tech report, discussing capital gaps, liquidity challenges, and why Europe’s fragmented markets can be a strength. The discussion also covers public market dynamics, how Europe can compete in AI, and government collaboration's role in deep tech innovation.

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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed in a discussion with Andrew J. Scott, Founding Partner at 7percent Ventures and Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape 💬

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Miki Yokoyama, Managing Director of Aurum Impact, the impact investment arm of the Goldbeck family office. Unlike most family offices that operate behind closed doors, Aurum Impact is taking a public stance—sharing its journey, investment strategy, and vision to inspire other families to engage in venture and impact investing.

Since launching in February 2023, Aurum Impact has made seven direct startup investments in companies like Paebbl, The Landbanking Group, Voltfang, UNDO, CleanHub, and Cyclize, alongside ten venture funds, including Planet A, Systemiq, Revent, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Counteract. With a mission to invest in four to five startups and four to five funds annually, their approach is both strategic and deeply rooted in creating environmental and social impact.

Miki and Andreas dive into the challenges of family office investing, the lack of transparency in the space, and the role of family wealth in shaping venture capital’s future. They also explore best practices for VCs fundraising from family offices, why many funds struggle to differentiate themselves, and how emerging fund managers can stand out in today’s competitive landscape.

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In today’s episode of the EUVC Podcast, Andreas talks with Juliet Bailin, Partner at General Catalyst, to explore the firm’s expansion in Europe, investment philosophy, and unique approach to venture capital. General Catalyst, known for backing companies like Stripe, Samsara, Livongo, and Mistral, operates with a global mindset while maintaining a deep commitment to early-stage investing.

Juliet, who focuses on infrastructure and applied AI, shares how her history background shapes her perspective on venture, why truth-seeking is fundamental to being a great investor, and how General Catalyst’s collaborative culture enables them to operate as one unified firm across geographies. She also dives into the firm’s recent rebrand and refreshed core values, including playing the long game, serving others, and shaping ambiguity.

In the second part of the conversation, we tackle an honest discussion on why venture needs a self-awareness reset. Juliet calls out common bad investor behaviors, from ghosting founders to exploding term sheets, and explains why overvaluing companies for ego reasons ultimately hurts founders the most. She also shares how General Catalyst ensures transparency in decision-making and why long-term relationships—not just transactional networks—are key to success.

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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC podcast, where our good friends Dan Bowyer and Mads Jensen from SuperSeed have a discussion with Lomax Ward, General Partner at Outsized Ventures, to cover recent news and movements in the European tech landscape. 💬

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As we look to the future of venture capital, it's clear that AI will play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping investment strategies and portfolio management.

The GP Roundtable on Leveraging AI in Portfolio Monitoring & Management brought together leading data-driven VCs to explore AI's transformative potential in venture and more.

Our guests:

• Alvaro Alvarez del Rio from Boost Capital Partners, renowned by LPs around the globe for their pioneering work with data and AI
• Dr. Andre Retterath, partner at Earlybird Venture Capital and founder of the go-to newsletter and community for data-driven VC: Data-Driven VC
• John Frankel a long-time OG with ff Venture Capital who have realized the power of AI
• Steven Greenberg, co-founder of TotemVC who's taking portfolio mgmt into the age of AI

They discuss how AI is being used in portfolio management, including uncovering trends and insights, data-driven decision-making, and portfolio value creation. The VCs share their experiences with AI tools and platforms, such as Totem VC and Early Bird's internal platform called Eagle Eye. They also discuss the importance of data quality and relevance in AI applications. The conversation highlights the potential of AI in improving efficiency, synthesizing information, and providing valuable insights for VCs.

The conversation explores the use of AI and machine learning in venture capital, specifically in the areas of deal sourcing, due diligence, portfolio monitoring, and reporting. The panelists discuss the benefits and challenges of using AI tools, such as language models, in these processes.

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